Education Notebook: School news and events for Feb. 4-10, 2016

World Wetlands Day: Clark County Wetlands Park hosted World Wetlands Day events Feb. 2 and 3 with local students visiting the park from 8: 30 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day to participate in interactive activities and lectures from scientists. About 230 high school students from Cheyenne, Faith Lutheran, Western and West Career and Technical Academy and a handful of UNLV freshman and sophomores participated in activities, including hands-on instruction, guided tours and lectures from SNWA biologists, hydrologists and scientists from the community.

Donate books for literacy tour: Harrah's Las Vegas headliner and comedy magician Mac King is partnering with Egg Works, The Egg & I, the Las Vegas Natural History Museum and the Darling Tennis Center to collect books for elementary school children in local at-risk schools as part of his Magical Literacy Tour for Nevada Reading Week 2016. Donate three or more new or gently used children's books to receive a pair of tickets to "The Mac King Comedy Magic Show" and special offers from the host venue. King will deliver the books to kids in at-risk schools March 1-4 during Nevada Reading Week 2016. For a full listing of drop-off locations and offers, visit mackingshow.com/about-mac/magical-literacy-tour.php.

Black History Month Essay & Art Contest: The deadline for the 37th contest for grades kindergarten through high school is 5 p.m. Feb. 5. Youth in grades kindergarten through third are encouraged to enter the creative expressions art contest. Older youths are encouraged to enter the essay contest, which is divided into three divisions: Elementary School (150 words), Middle School (250 words) and High School (400 words). The topic is, "How can we eliminate racism in the world?" First-, second- and third-place winners in each division will recite their essays or present their drawings at a banquet event in their honor at 6 p.m. Feb. 19. Essays may be turned in at the East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., or emailed to cfranklin@lasvegasnevada.gov. For more information, call 702-229-1515.

Coral Academy open house: The last of Coral Academy of Science Las Vegas' open houses is set for 11 a.m. Feb. 6 for prospective families for the 2016-17 school year at 8185 Tamarus St. Families are encouraged to apply. CASLV selects its students by a random lottery system. Parents are notified via mail of the results within five business days. Applications are due by noon Feb. 28, 2016. Those received after that date will be subject to an additional lottery, if applicable. The lottery is planned Feb. 29. Visit coralacademylv.org/admission.

Young Minds Matter: The Public Education Foundation is launching its 2016 fundraising campaign Young Minds Matter to support its initiatives and programs. The foundation works to bring about transformational change in teaching, learning and education leadership. To donate, visit thepef.org.

PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program: Vegas PBS announced the fourth annual PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators Program for kindergarten through 12th-grade educators who use technology and digital media to support student learning. Through Feb. 8, educators can apply to the PBS LearningMedia Digital Innovators program by completing a profile, answering two essay questions and submitting a 60- to 120-second video showcasing their use of digital technology and tools in their classroom. All educators who meet the requirements and submit their application will be accepted and rewarded with year-long professional development opportunities. A panel of judges will select 54 educators, one from each U.S. state and territory, as Lead Innovators, to be announced in March. The online application is available at pbslearningmedia.org/digitalinnovators.

Cox Diversity Scholarships: Graduating high school students in Southern Nevada can apply for one of 10 Cox Diversity Scholarships being awarded in amounts of $3,500 each by Cox Communications-Las Vegas. The competitive scholarships require applicants to be on track to graduate with a minimum 2.5 grade-point average, provide demonstrated leadership and community service, and submit an essay focused on a significant leader from their respective diverse communities. The deadline is Feb. 12. Applications and submission instructions are available online from The Public Education Foundation at ccpef.org.

Junior League scholarships: The Junior League of Las Vegas is planning to award four college scholarships in the amount of $2,500 each, eligible for renewal for up to three additional years. Interested applicants should be young women, passionate about community service; current high school seniors or current college students; planning to be fully enrolled in a Southern Nevada college in the fall; and in need of financial assistance with their education. The deadline to apply is Feb. 14. Visit jllv.org/scholarships.

Foundation scholarship applications available: The Public Education Foundation has launched the 22nd year of its Scholarship Program and is urging high school seniors to start the application process. The Foundation expects to award nearly $1 million in scholarships this academic year to students who will pursue a post-secondary education. Most scholarship application deadlines are Feb. 16. The scholarships are provided by community leaders, businesses, organizations, individuals and families and range from $500 to $5,000 annually. Some are renewable. Visit thepef.org.

Summer internships: Qualifying high school students can apply online for paid summer internships through Clark County's Summer Business Institute Program. To be eligible to apply for the 2016 program, students must be sophomores, juniors or seniors with a minimum 2.0 grade point average. The program offers eight-week internships in fields ranging from law and medicine to architecture and education. Teen participants gain work experience and on-the-job business mentoring as part of the program. County staff will select about 95 Clark County students for the program, which runs from mid-June through mid-August. Participants are paid $8.25 an hour to work eight-hour days Monday through Thursday. On Fridays, interns attend seminars and workshops to receive training on topics such as life skills and personal finance and to participate in a civic engagement project. Applications must be submitted online by 5 p.m. Feb. 19. Applications are available at ClarkCountyNV.gov/human-resources.

Stupak College Fair: The fair for ages 13 or older, is planned from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Stupak Community Center, 251 Boston Ave. It is free and open to the public. Junior high and high school students and their parents can gather information from college vendors and trade schools to plan for future education. Call 702-229-2488.

Ward 1 Jobs for Nevada's Graduate Youth Career Empowerment Summit: The event is planned from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at Clark High School, 4291 Pennwood Ave. It is free and open to high school students. Attendees can participate in interactive workshops, raffle prizes, open interviews, job placement and internship opportunities. Breakfast and lunch will be included. Attendees should bring resumes. Professional attire is preferred. Call JAG Specialist Sherrie Smith 702-799-2589, extension 4004 or CCSD School Police Officer Robert Mayer at 702-366-5244.

Simon Youth scholarships: The nonprofit Simon Youth Foundation is seeking Las Vegas applicants for its Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship program, which awards scholarships to graduating seniors living within 50 miles of Las Vegas North and Las Vegas South Premium Outlets. The scholarships are awarded in every community across the country that is home to Simon, Mills, or Premium Outlets malls. Applications must be completed by March 1 for consideration. Visit syf.org/scholarships.

Brookings partnership extended: UNLV and The Brookings Institution have announced a four-year renewal of Brookings Mountain West, which works to bring together researchers from the two institutions to work on policy solutions to help the city and region grow. More than 50 Brookings scholars have been in residence at UNLV over the last five years, and Brookings Mountain West has hosted more than 75 public lectures from visiting scholars. Those scholars also engage with UNLV faculty and student through a Brookings Public Policy Minor. Launched in 2012, the minor is coordinated through UNLV's Greenspun College of Urban Affairs and includes a curriculum centered on local, national and global themes. Visit unlv.edu/brookingsmtnwest.

Day school awards presentation: Solomon Schechter Day School is planning its annual gala and awards presentation March 13 at Canyon Gate Country Club, 2001 Canyon Gate Drive. Jewish philanthropists and Temple Beth Sholom members Bobbi and Peter Feinstein are to be presented with the Founders Award; Schechter Judaic teachers Sara Gruber, Ronit Didio and Iris Ozer are to receive the Commitment to Jewish Education Award; and The Honorable Abbi Silver will be given the Excellence in Leadership Award. The Evening at the Casbah-themed event raises funds for the Sidney Chaplin Memorial Scholarship Fund, with proceeds benefiting families in need. Silent and live auctions are planned with spa packages, jewelry, fine art, vacations, VIP lunch dates, summer camp experiences, and more. Contact Denise Hahamy at 702-804-1333, ext. 158, or denise@ssds-lv.org.

UNLV to participate in Solar Decathlon: UNLV is one of 16 university teams worldwide picked to compete in the 2017 U.S. Department of Energy contest that challenges students to design, build and operate homes that are energy-efficient, affordable and innovative. UNLV will work to build on its 2013 Solar Decathlon showing, where it finished first among American universities and second overall. Team Las Vegas is planning a community kickoff event later this spring. Visit tinyurl.com/solardecathlon2017 or springspreserve.org/attractions/desertsol.html.

Teaching scholarships: WGU Nevada is partnering with the Nevada Department of Education to offer up to 20 full-ride scholarships to residents who wish to pursue a career in teaching. In 2015, the Nevada Department of Education provided $240,000 to WGU Nevada as part of the Nevada Legislature's Teach Nevada Scholarship Initiative. Individuals interested in applying are required to complete WGU Nevada's Alternate Route to Licensure program for elementary and secondary teaching. The ARL program is an accelerated pathway for individuals who already hold a bachelor's degree but do not have a teaching license. After successful completion of the accelerated program, students will have completed a series of rigorous courses, in-person observations, and clinical experiences in a public school classroom that prepares them to be highly effective teachers. Winning scholarship recipients will be awarded $3,000 per term, not to exceed a total of $12,000 per student. Scholarships are available to new students who possess a bachelor's or master's degree in a non-education related field from an accredited university. To learn more about the scholarship, email scholarships@wgu.edu. Visit nevada.wgu.edu.

PBS Kids Writers Contest: Vegas PBS announces the annual PBS Kids Writers Contest, which is designed to promote the advancement of children's literacy skills through hands-on, interactive learning. Submissions will be judged for originality, creative expression, storytelling technique, illustrations and overall impression. Vegas PBS will honor the top three winners in each grade level at an award ceremony in which the awardees will learn their placements. Prizes include trophies, framed enlargements of their work and additional reading and writing resources. First-place winners will also receive free tuition to attend the Southern Nevada Writing Project's summer writing camp. Stories are due at 5 p.m. March 18. All entries must include a signed entry form and be mailed or delivered to Vegas PBS Ready To Learn, 3050 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, Nevada 89121. Visit VegasPBS.org/writers-contest.

USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program: For the sixth year, USA Sevens Rugby and the Clark County School District are partnering for the annual USA Sevens Adopt-A-Country program in an effort to build a curriculum of international education, tolerance and ambassadorship promoted through rugby. Sixteen Clark County School District elementary and middle schools adopt one of the teams participating in the 2016 USA Sevens International Rugby Tournament, set for March 4-6 at Sam Boyd Stadium, to incorporate hands-on lessons and values designed around the school's adopted country. Throughout the 2015-16 school year, each of the schools incorporates key aspects from the adopted country into the classroom curriculum. In addition to the classroom and physical activities, each student is encouraged to learn more about the adopted country through a series of creative contests, including a T-shirt design contest and critical thinking essay competition. USA Sevens will select the top three submissions and create T-shirts for each student in the three schools from the winning design. The essay contest challenges students to connect on a personal level by comparing and contrasting their typical day with the typical day of someone their age in the adopted country. One winner from each school will be selected to represent the adopted nation and class in the 2016 USA Sevens Parade of Nations Ceremony at the Fremont Street Experience, planned from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 3.

Latin Chamber scholarship: In collaboration with the Las Vegas Latin Chamber of Commerce, WGU Nevada is encouraging professionals to embark on continuing education by offering more than $30,000 in scholarships to members of the chamber through its Las Vegas Otto Merida Scholarship program. The scholarships, valued at up to $3,200 per student, will be applied at the rate of $800 per six-month term, renewable for up to four terms. Scholarships are available to new students looking to earn a bachelor's or master's degree in any of WGU Nevada's more than 50 degree programs in information technology, business, teacher education, or health care. Potential awardees must be a member of the chamber, or belong to a member company, which comprises more than 800 members. The WGU Nevada Otto Merida Scholarship was created in honor of the founder and chief executive officer of the Latin Chamber of Commerce. Visit nevada.wgu.edu/LVLCC.

Host families sought for exchange students: International Experience USA, a nonprofit high school student exchange organization approved by the U.S. Department of State, is seeking host families in the Las Vegas Valley to provide room and board, help with transportation and provide emotional support to exchange students. The students provide their own insurance and personal spending money. Visit ie-usa.org or contact Carol Myint at 507-301-3615 or c.myint@international-experience.net.